[Play Report] Soccer Club Management Sim "Football Manager 26" Offers Deeply Niche Gameplay, While Also Allowing Time-Saving Play That Captures the Best of Managing

Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/936/G093625/20251003024/

Writer: Matsutani Kenta | 2025/10/03 09:30 (UTC)

Scheduled for release on November 5, 2025, from Sega, the football management game “Football Manager 26” (PC / Mac / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Nintendo Switch). Hereafter referred to as “FM26.” This article presents impressions gathered during a media hands-on event held in late September. We’ll introduce the appeal of this latest installment, which features an entirely revamped user interface for matches and management screens thanks to a new game engine upgrade, and enhanced delegation tools that make it enjoyable both for hardcore enthusiasts and casual players.

※The screenshots displayed are from the international version.

PC MAC Xbox Series X|S PS5 Nintendo Switch Interview

Interview: The Director of the “Football Manager” Series on the Evolution of FM26, Crafted Over a Two-Year Development Cycle

The football management game “Football Manager 26,” scheduled for release on November 5, 2025, from Sega, was the subject of a joint interview with Miles Jacobson, the director of the title, who visited Japan coinciding with the Tokyo Game Show 2025.

[October 3, 2025, 8:00 AM]

Official Website for “Football Manager 26”

Re-creating the Current Global Soccer Scene with Vast Data

Playing through the “Football Manager” series, one is immediately struck by the overwhelming volume of information included in the game. It features detailed data on soccer players and club teams from around the world—indeed, FM26 now includes female football players and leagues for the first time.

Each individual player has meticulously set status values based on their personal data. For any soccer fan, this could very well serve as an “incredible compendium of detailed player profiles.” Thumbnail image No.002 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

FM26 adopts Unity, significantly enhancing the intensity of match scenes compared to previous entries in the series that used Sports Interactive’s proprietary game engine. Thumbnail image No.003 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

For Japanese “Football Manager” players, the rich data coverage of J.League and WE League teams is a welcome addition. Male soccer players from J1 to J3 divisions, as well as female players in the WE League, are almost entirely represented with real photos. Few leagues outside England include such detailed information about lower-division players or clubs—J.League receives notable favor in this regard.

The inclusion of women’s football marks a first for the series. Major English clubs like Manchester City, along with Japan’s WE League, have obtained full licensing, allowing their official logos and kits to be faithfully recreated. Thumbnail image No.004 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions Thumbnail image No.005 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

With extensive player and club data, FM26 also meticulously replicates the intricate rules that vary by league—for instance, when managing a Serie A team in Italy, you must adhere to real-world regulations: out of 25 players registered for the bench, eight must have been developed within Italy, with four of those being youth products from your own club. For fans deeply invested in specific leagues or clubs, this level of authenticity provides high immersion.

Another appealing aspect of “Football Manager” is encountering obscure soccer trivia from countries around the world—information rarely highlighted during casual match viewing. Thumbnail image No.006 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

As someone who casually follows UEFA Champions League results and the leagues of my favorite teams (J2 and Serie A), I was struck by how many specialized soccer terms are used in this game—terms rarely seen in Japanese media. Particularly memorable were the role descriptions for players at each position. For example, a central midfield role typically labeled “box-to-box” or “deep-lying midfielder” in Japan is referred to using advanced terminology such as “anchor,” “regista,” “deep-lying playmaker,” “roaming playmaker,” and “ball-winning midfielder”—terms I had never heard before. Naturally, each of these roles comes with distinct on-pitch behaviors.

Additionally, FM26 includes a vast array of soccer jargon, but it features an accessible support tool called “FMpedia” that gently explains the meanings of these terms. Using this feature makes the game enjoyable even for those without prior soccer knowledge and also gives players the potential to become more knowledgeable about football.

Tactics are entirely up to the manager (player). You can adjust formations, fine-tune positions, change player roles, balance overall attack-defense dynamics, control dribbling frequency, set passing tempo, decide from where in the opponent’s half to launch attacks—almost every tactical detail is customizable. Thumbnail image No.007 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

Enhanced Delegation Improves Accessibility

“Football Manager” series allows involvement in every aspect: club operations (financial management, etc.), team management (acquiring players/staff, deciding training content, setting tactics), and on-field coaching during matches. In recent years, the “Delegation” command—allowing assigned tasks to be handled by subordinates (COMs)—has become increasingly robust. FM26 maintains this convenience: you can delegate negotiations over player contracts, compiling transfer lists, creating training programs, selecting bench players based on injuries and suspensions, setting formations, assigning roles—all club-related work can be handed off.

In essence, players only need to focus on what they want to do themselves.

The portal (main menu for operations) delivers notifications requiring your judgment as the manager, according to the schedule. While monitoring all these details is enjoyable when crafting your ideal club, using delegation helps save time if you wish to progress through the season more quickly. Thumbnail image No.008 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

One might worry that delegating everything could diminish the fun—but managing a football club truly involves an enormous workload. There are opportunities to motivate players before matches, during halftime, or even mid-game: you can adjust formations and positions, modify roles, and issue precise instructions on how much each player should focus on attack versus defense.

Even focusing solely on match management gives a strong sense of being a real coach. If your goal is to speed through a season or concentrate purely on the role-playing aspect of being a manager, delegating tasks typically handled by assistant coaches or development staff—like designing training programs or conducting negotiations—is absolutely viable.

You can adjust formations during matches and define how players act in both offensive and defensive situations—just thinking about tactics and issuing in-game instructions offers ample entertainment. Thumbnail image No.009 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

Even with minimal in-game involvement, you can still enjoy the game by focusing on club finances and team management—embodying the role of a General Manager (GM). Thumbnail image No.010 / [Play Report] Football Manager 26 Is Deeply Niche to Play Yet Also Allows Time-Saving ‘Best-of-Both-Worlds’ Coaching Sessions

As the series has evolved, increasingly useful features have been added. This allows players to freely choose where they want to focus their attention in club management. Anyone with even a slight interest in football is likely to find a playstyle that suits them.

Although we are not including Japanese version screenshots here, during hands-on testing, it felt noticeably better localized than the previous installment. For those who previously gave up on “Football Manager” or avoided it due to perceiving it as too difficult—this title deserves special attention.